St. Albans council voted Monday to place restrictions on where people may and may not smoke cigarettes, and those of the tobacco-less variety, within city limits.
The ordinance, passed on second reading, widens the scope of current restrictions to include tobacco-less cigarettes, according to Mayor Dick Callaway.
"We are widening the scope to anything that contains nicotine," Callaway said. "If the product is nicotine-based, it will not be allowed on public or school properties."
Council heard the first reading of an ordinance amending the city's code to make it easier for the city to handle to arraignment process.
"What happens now, if a person is taken in by an officer, they have to go through an arraignment," Callaway said. "That means the judge would have to come out and hear the plea and the police officer would have to write a complaint."
According to Callaway, if passed, this ordinance would make that process easier on St. Albans city government.
"If that person is not a real risk," Callaway said. "They [police officers] can write them a citation rather than going through the arraignment process, but it would act the same as an arraignment."
In other action, Council advanced to second reading an ordinance to impose a municipal sales and service tax. Callaway wasn't clear to a reporter what the tax amount would be.
"It is just a sales tax and we are the last of 28 cities in this area to enforce it," Callaway said. "It will give us an additional income stream to help satisfy some of the obligations in paying our bills."
Council approved, by unanimous voice vote, the payment of current invoices in the amount of $14,042.23, brought by Ward 2 Councilman Jason Philabaun.
Philabaun also suggested to Council a resolution to hold elections in St. Albans under the same rules as the state of West Virginia.
Council agreed to add Philabaun's suggestion to the next meeting's agenda.
In addition, Philabaun announced a "Concert in the Park" event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Philabaun said it will feature at least five bands and all the proceeds will go to survivors of the state's recent flooding.
The City of St. Albans will begin hosting pre-game tailgates before St. Albans High School football games, said Kevin Pennington, superintendent of the Department of Parks and Recreation. St. Albans' first game is against Parkersburg on Aug. 26.
"These kids can eat and go to the game for $10," Pennington said. "The idea was brought to us by the kids at the school, and we want them to know we are listening."
Councilman Robert Keiffer of Ward 1 and Councilman Christopher Withrow of Ward 5 were absent from Monday's meeting.
Council's next meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 on the second floor of the municipal building at 51 Sixth Ave.